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SXSW 2014: Eagulls, Live In Concert

The Leeds-based post-punk band Eagulls hit the stage at Stubb’s BBQ in Austin, Texas, ready to deploy some serrated weaponry. From neatly attired singer George Mitchell’s assured yelp to a guitar attack that’s clean and direct, the group generated a stormy sound that roared and banged with sleekness and power, while hinting at the doomstruck beauty of forebears like Joy Division.

As with Perfect Pussy, who played a short, intense set at NPR Music’s SXSW showcase just before they took the stage, Eagulls’ name necessitates a bit of discussion on its own — in NPR Music staff meetings, it’s the band that launched a thousand clarifications involving Don Henley — but the music quickly drowns out any short-lived confusion. Playing dense songs of disillusionment from its new self-titled debut, Eagulls coolly re-created and reinvigorated a strong batch of fresh material.